One of numerous, intriguing pieces of art showcased at the Eastside Cultural Arts Center

The weather is beautiful and the energy is high but what fills the air is the determination, passion, and commitment by his family and the Oakland community to keep the legacy of Oscar Grant, III alive and ensure that his death not be in vain. Together they launched the Official Oscar Grant Foundation with a dual purpose, “...to continue the political battle against police brutality and misconduct and the practical fight to help serve, uplift, and save other young Black men just like Oscar,” his uncle Cephus Johnson told me as the activities began.

Oscar Grant may have been physically killed by then-Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) police officer Johannes Mehserle on New Year's Day 2009, but he seemed as alive today as he did before Mehserle's single bullet to his back ended his journey on earth.

His family and his people celebrated him in work, song, and poetry today and I’m not sure if it was planned to do this on the dot, but the day-long kick-off went from 10-10. It started with a breakfast and community empowerment program at the East Oakland Youth Development Center and ended at the Eastside Cultural Arts Center with musical performances and spoken word.

More on this is coming in the print edition of The Final Call but until then, visit the Oscar Grant Foundation at www.oscargrantfoundation.com.

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Sis. Charlene @ KJLH Radio

As former producer of the Front Page, I got a daily, ring side seat to news and analysis from some of the most hard-hitting scholars our communities have produced, many you're already familiar with. The show features daily listener comments and questions and on Mondays, I produced the Next Page, a mini-feature on issues impacting our people, but that were buried in the news. .